Garden club celebrates ‘Spring is in the Air’

Approximately 80 people gathered March 14 for Garden Club of Orange Park’s “Spring is in the Air” to welcome spring with four guest speakers, plants to enhance gardens, Silent Auction prizes, food and friendship.

The diverse speakers educated attendees on ways to make our gardens more beautiful and less work by planting native plants, encouraging birds to visit our yards and conserving water through use of rain barrels and rain gardens.

Throughout the day, the bidding became intense for the Silent Auction prizes, which included local attraction tickets, tea baskets, bird lover baskets and plants. Everyone visited the plant sale at least once to secure new additions to their existing gardens, and the Ways & Means tables offered a plethora of gift items.

President Kay Earhart declared the day a “smashing success.”

The Garden Club of Orange Park hold an annual horticulture program in mid-March of every year.

BASCA celebrates 20 Years of charity tourney

Orange Park – BASCA will hold its 20th Anniversary of the Subaru of Jacksonville BASCA Golf Classic, taking place on Friday, April 4, at Eagle Harbor Golf Club in Fleming Island.

This year we are celebrating two decades of raising needed funds to provide for the care of individuals with intellectual and developmental differences.  With Title Sponsor, Subaru of Jacksonville, we are looking forward to a great day of golf and fundraising. The fun begins at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at Eagle Harbor Golf Club and concludes with an awards dinner and silent auction.

This year's fundraising goal is $30,000. These funds will be used to enhance our Transportation Services, ensuring that our clients can access the resources they need to thrive.

To register or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.bascainc.org or call (904) 541-1742.

Seniors may apply for $2K scholarships

2025 graduating seniors are eligible and encouraged to apply for four $2,000 CCC Scholarships. Applicants must be graduating from the Clay County School System. Students are eligible if they are going to attend any post-secondary program of study including colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools.

Applicants are requested to write an essay of approximately 150 words and complete a short application form. Scholarship applications must be received by Clay County Cruzers on or before the application deadline of Monday, March 31.

These forms are also available at: www.claycountycruzers.com.

Applications and essays should be mailed to: Clay County Cruzers, PO Box 65691, Orange Park, FL 32065-9998

Each applicant will be notified once their application is received. The winners will be announced in April 2025.

Fraternity chapter seeking Talent Hunt participants

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s PSI Mu Nu chapter requests submissions for Talent Hunt, which is slated from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12.

Categories include dance, music, visual art, and dramatic interpretation (rap, poetry and monologue).

Video submissions must be received by noon March 29. Send submissions to pmntalenthunt@gmail.com

Operation Green Light is all systems ‘go’

Northeast Florida County Clerks of Court in the area joined forces this year to plan two weeks of services to help drivers save money, to reduce their financial stress and to get those drivers back on the road with a legal driver license.

NEFL Operation Green Light 2025: Saving on Fees to Reinstate Driver Licenses runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 31, April 4 and April 7-11, at offices in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St Johns and Putnam counties.

Cat Café on the prowl March 22

The Fleming Island Library is hosting a Cat Café from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22. The Orange Park Library will also be hosting another Cat Café event during the same hours on Saturday, May 3.

The adoption fee for kittens is $25; adopters will also go home with a goody bag.

Summer camp sign-ups underway

Early registration ends March 31 for one-week camps at Spotlight Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Camper ages are 8 to rising high school senior. Registration fee is $250/child with discounts available for families with multiple children signing up.

There is a performance showcase at 6 p.m. Fridays.

We are also offering a two-week intensive that correlates with the musical Matilda.

Week 1 hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and week 2 will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students will also be required to be available for tech week July 7-10 and all Matilda performance dates July 11- Aug. 2. Registration fee is $350/child with discounts available for families with multiple children participating.

Register at www.spotlighteventscenter.com or call (904) 375-9547.